Children's home run by Quality Protects Children Ltd in Knowsley

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Six of the seven requirements made at the previous inspection have been met. The remaining requirement is in relation to management oversight of young people’s records, which continues to have shortfalls. For example, the registered manager initiated a ‘sign off’ sheet for staff to sign and date, to indicate that they had read and understood updates to young people’s records. However, the majority of staff, including managers, had failed to sign this form. A more robust system of management oversight is needed to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, young people have continued to make progress in all areas of their lives, including health, education and with contact with important people. Staff have been consistent in their approaches, and young people report that they are happy and safe living in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have now established a positive approach to the management of young people’s behaviour. They are guided by a detailed behaviour management plan, which clearly specifies the signs that young people may display when their behaviour is escalating. This work has resulted in a reduction of challenging behaviour and an increase in more positive interactions between staff and young people. A social worker commented, ‘There has been significant improvement in his behaviour over the last few months, with fewer incidents. The staff are working well in managing his behaviour.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have needed to use physical intervention on three occasions since the last inspection. The recordings of these incidents are good; each one supports why the intervention was necessary, and demonstrates that the young person’s welfare was monitored throughout and that they were involved in discussion afterwards. The manager thoroughly reviews each incident to ensure that it was managed effectively and that any learning from practice is considered.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments have been appropriately updated and are now more robust. They clearly identify the individual risks for each young person and the strategies in place for staff to follow. For example, a young person who displays self-harming behaviour now has a comprehensive risk assessment in place. This means that staff are able to give a consistent, measured approach to this behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All young people are engaging well in their education provisions. Furthermore, education plans are now in place for all young people. These give direction to staff on what to do if young people are excluded or refuse to attend their education provisions. Consequently, the home now promotes fully the importance of learning and education to all young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Health plans for young people are now updated and give a clear picture of young people’s health needs. C are, encouragement and attention to detail are now given to all aspects of young people’s health, including the quality of meals, attendance at appointments and access to professional services. This ensures that all young people are provided with support and guidance to meet all of their individual health needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s risk-taking behaviours have decreased. For example, young people who previously struggled with controlling their feelings of anger and aggressive behaviour have decreased their risk-taking behaviours significantly since coming to live at the home. A parent said, ‘(Young person) is calmer, they don’t give up there, and things have definitely got better because of the staff.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people receive support from staff who demonstrate a good knowledge of safeguarding and who are experienced in managing high-risk behaviours, such as going missing from home. When young people go missing from home, staff try to maintain contact with them, as well as actively look for them. Staff also continue to work closely with all safeguarding professionals, providing regular updates and information as required. In addition, staff complete direct work with young people to increase the young people’s level of understanding of the risks that they are placing themselves at while in the community. This shows young people that staff genuinely care about their welfare and safety. This in turn helps to promote trusting relationships. A young person commented, ‘I can talk to staff here, especially (staff member). He is just like a father figure to me.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s environment has significantly improved since the last inspection. It now presents as a warm, comfortable environment. Improvements are taking place with the conversion of the garage area into a sensory room. Young people have been involved with the planning, décor and in choosing furnishings for this area. This ensures that young people are part of the day-to-day decision making and has enhanced their self-esteem as they feel listened to.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some staff talk positively about the support that they receive, especially in relation to the registered manager. However, staff supervisions do not routinely take place. This limits opportunity for managerial oversight and staff development, and the manager acknowledge that this is a further area for improvement.

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Information about this children’s home

This service provides residential accommodation for up to five young people who have a learning disability. The home is owned by a private company.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/12/2016 Full Requires improvement 01/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 21/07/2015 Full Requires improvement 23/07/2014 Full Good

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(1) that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

(a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

(a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; (b) ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; (e) ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; (f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 12/052017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

(a) undertake appropriate continuing professional development; (b) receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and (c) have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. 12/05/2017 (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c))

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children’s home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference that adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. the guidance ‘Raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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